NOVEL NEXT chapter 101
101 – High Priest Appointment Ceremony
A splendid imperial palace decorated with tens of thousands of gold and thousands of silver.
More than hundreds of people were paying attention to the two men inside.
One is the ruler of the empire and the emperor who rules it, Luke Ras Trient.
The other one is a lieutenant priest… me. Ivan Ira.
I was kneeling in front of the emperor.
The emperor, who was staring at me, waited for the imperial palace to become quiet, and when it became completely quiet, he opened his mouth.
“Ivan Ira, a lieutenant priest of the Church of the Earth Mother. You have cured over a thousand sick people, stopped the rebellion of the Acid family, prevented a volcanic disaster, and captured Leviathan from the Dragon Palace. “Are these all true?”
I nodded.
“Then, are you a direct descendant of the noble family ‘Aira’, the lineage of the Earth Mother, which Gail Sophia Scherer, the Great Sage of the Magic Tower, has been claiming for some time?”
I nodded without saying anything.
“You have achieved something that no one has been able to achieve in a short period of time. And you are none other than the House of Aira, the lineage of the Earth Mother, Neve Aira. “Are these all true?”
I nodded silently without answering the emperor’s words.
“Good. You are truly qualified. I, Emperor Luke Ras Trent, would like to ask you a favor here. “Ivan Ira, I hope you will continue to serve the chaotic empire as a high priest.”
The emperor touched my kneeling shoulder with his ceremonial sword and smiled.
“Of course, I will not allow you to refuse.”
When the high-ranking priest appointment ceremony was over, all the guests in the imperial palace applauded and cheered.
They knew the abilities and achievements of the new high-ranking priest in the empire, so they were not dissatisfied with him becoming a high-ranking priest.
But I couldn’t make eye contact with them so I lowered my head.
Finally… The day to finally purify everything is not far away.
I am so happy and sad about that fact…
Just… I kept my head down and remained silent.
***
After the high priest appointment ceremony, I left the imperial palace without anyone noticing.
“Ah, it’s nice that it’s quiet~”
I stretched out, feeling the night breeze.
The inside of the imperial palace is almost like a festival. No, not most of them, just festivals.
Everyone seems excited about the appointment of a high-ranking priest for the first time in a long time, and that a person in the direct lineage of the Earth Mother has become a high-ranking priest.
In particular, the reporters went into a frenzy over the scoop, and I felt dizzy and left the scene.
Because I had so many things to do, people didn’t seem to be very impressed with me becoming a high priest, but they were more interested in my family ‘Aira’ than in me.
Suddenly, Shin’s family appeared like a comet. Wouldn’t people be surprised?
Everyone was surprised because it was such a sudden appearance.
Well, it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re surprised or not.
“Is there anyone other than me who became a high-ranking priest at such a young age?”
It seems like only yesterday that I was begging after coming to this world, but I am a high-ranking priest.
“If you think about it, a lot has happened in the past year… what… “It was boring because I was lying in the hospital bed most of the time.”
I was so moved that I couldn’t say anything and just stared at the moonlight.
“Priest!”
As I was staring blankly at the moonlight, I heard the voice of Saint Amelia from behind.
When she looked back in surprise, the saint seemed to have rushed over and was getting dust all over her clothes.
“Saint?”
“You are here, priest…” “
The saint trudged over and sat down next to me, as if she was having a hard time.
No… How did you come here?
I ran away quite far away to a deserted park so that no one would find me. How did you find me?
Why did you come here? I finished everything I had to do at the appointment ceremony, and I left the party to show off to the high-ranking people, so there shouldn’t be any problems, right?
“Has something happened? I can’t leave the party or… “Something like that?”
“Yes? Oh no… I just came here in a hurry because the priest disappeared… “
What, did you really come here without any meaning?
Yes, it’s better than having a big problem…
“Ah… is that so? “Then, while we’re here, please tell us about the stars in the night sky.”
“Yes? Why are the stars suddenly… “
“Astronomy in this world is still illiterate. Sometimes before… No, there are just some confusing stars.”
“Is that so? I don’t know that much either… “
“It doesn’t matter if you just tell me what you know. It’s just been a while… Because I want to hear a story from someone… “
“Okay… I only know the story I picked up from a friend… Still, I’ll try my best… “
“hahahaha, I’m just thankful for that.”
I lay down on the grass where I had been sitting.
Then, a spectacular view of the beautiful night sky unfolds before my eyes.
Numerous stars and the moon can be observed without a telescope.
I always think about it, but it is such a beautiful sky.
In my past life, I looked through the telescope lens with my eyes wide open, thinking I was seeing some kind of star, but here, I can see stars even if I don’t do that, so it’s good.
“Do you see that cluster of stars over there? Like this… “If I connect it like this, doesn’t it look like a bull?”
When the saint lying next to me pointed to the sky, I quickly drew a line.
When she connected the stars along that line, she saw that… There is a bull shape that seems far-fetched.
“Hmm, yes, there is something that looks like a bull.”
“It’s called Taurus… “
“Taurus?”
“Yes, you know about constellations, right?”
It’s a constellation.
I know that the Heavenly God enshrined beings who have achieved great karma among the stars in the night sky.
I don’t know in detail what was engraved in the sky, but I roughly know it.
“A little bit. “Then, is this Taurus something that the Heavenly God has chosen?”
“Yes, he was a warrior from the Minotaur race called Thruple Bullfighter. “He was recognized by the Heavenly God for his karma and became a star in the night sky.”
“It’s romantic and nice to become a star in the sky.”
In this world, those who have achieved a certain level of karma seem to leave behind their existence in some form.
Dagon and Bullfighter both have a lot of regrets…
‘Eve, perhaps you too are in this sky…? If you like the night sky, you must have one… Wait a munite. When everything is over, I will definitely be by your side… ‘
Crash…
No.
Don’t think about the future yet.
Just one step.
We have only taken a step towards purification, but we should not get excited.
I clenched my teeth and forced myself to stand up as I was shaking.
“Priest?”
The saint looked at me strangely when he suddenly woke up.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. “I’m just feeling a little sore, so I’m going to do some stretching.”
I lied skillfully without being embarrassed.
“I’m glad… I thought something was wrong with the priest… ”
“hahahaha… “Thank you for your concern.”
The saintess smiled as if relieved and continued to explain about the stars in the night sky.
You seem to be in a good mood.
I wonder if there has been a change in the mood of the person who seemed frightened and shaking just a few days ago.
Maybe we can go to the Dragon Palace together… ?
‘There is a saying that going to the beach gives peace of mind. Is this true?’
You went into the deep sea rather than the beach, but you seem to be feeling better, so it doesn’t matter.
“What is your dream, priest?” ?”
The saintess, who had been talking about the bee position for a long time, suddenly asked such a question.
“A dream? Why is that suddenly… “
“So you became the high-ranking priest you wanted to be. “I was wondering what my next goal would be.”
“Hmm? “Have I ever told you that I want to become a high priest?”
“Yes, yes! “She always said she wanted to be a high priest.”
Is that so? She wrote in her diary that she should become a high priest, but I don’t remember telling anyone.
Anyway, the next goal… I don’t have a next goal.
So, becoming a high priest was just a stepping stone to reach the goal. I was always running toward the same goal.
“I will tell you the saint’s goal if you tell me.”
“Ah… “I want to find her friend and say thank you.”
“If a friend is someone who looks like me, right?”
“Yes… Now, please tell the priest… “
“Coincidentally, I have a similar goal as the saint. “When I have finally cut off and purified all the tragedies in this world, I want to say hello to my benefactor.”
I simply followed Eve’s will to rid this world of all sorrow and convey my gratitude to her.
I have lived these distant and lonely years.
[Main Quest: Becoming a High Priest Completed]
[Reward: Hero Selection Quest (link)
[Main Quest (link): The World Tree has selected 7 humans, including you, as warrior candidates. Become a warrior and achieve your goal]
Remaining period: 30 days
Reward: ???, 10 Million PP
There really isn’t much left now.
The day is not far when I will wash away all my sins, purify this ugly world, and lead it to the right path.
The life of this ugly ‘something’ is coming to an end.